and this is how it went...a true story.

April-August 2011

“Her shoulders slumped and she took in a big breath and breathed out slowly.....NOW it was time to relax a bit, NOW there was nothing on her agenda that couldn't wait a few days, NOW she could breathe.....” The thoughts of Katie Friday evening, August 19^th. This is a true account of the lives of Howard, Susan, and Katie Dyck.

Really, the craziness goes back to the start of our second session ever at CEC, which started in January! We came out of a busy, awesome, session of school only to enter more craziness! Mum and Dad headed off to a “Refresher Course” with New Tribes Mission that was help in Missouri while I held down the fort, finishing the website for CEC. (www.centroeducativocristiano.com) God has awesome timing with certain events, even the hard ones which brings me to my Grandads heart attack. God was in control and he “just happened” to be in the hospital getting tests done and on an EKG machine when he had his attack. He was rushed to emergency and taken care of immediately, my Mum flew from Missouri to Tennessee to be with her parents while my Dad drove back down to Mexico from Missouri. Now came the packing up and getting ready to leave Mexico for 6 weeks! YIKES! Oh, and did I mention last minute planning a Bible seminar at the school 4 days after we were to get back? Yes, that too! My dad and I started planning, calling teachers, visiting pastors, and designing posters. (Two days before heading out!) You may be thinking we were CRAZY and wondering why we were doing this, well it's really a simple answer.....some Mexican pastors had requested that the seminar take place while their kids were still out of school for the summer so those that came from farther away wouldn't have to leave their children, or not come because of their children being in school.....thus the mad decision to continue with the planning and just do it! So we got things in order as much as we could and then left for Phoenix where we were not only meeting my mum, where she came directly from Tennessee, but where we were flying out for Canada! (breath)

“Oh Canada!!” One would think that 5 weeks in Canada was TONS of time, right?? (At least that's what I thought!) I was wrong....because what I didn't take into consideration was all the restaurants and food I can't get in Mexico that I needed to eat in that time! Ok, so not just that, but all the people I wanted to catch up with, all the churches we wanted to share in, and especially, all our family that we wanted to spend TIME with! We were privileged to celebrate with my grandparents their 60^th wedding anniversary! WOW, hey? We had a mini family reunion where all the “kids” of my grandparents came and some of the cousins and most of the in-laws. This was a special time for us as family because we're so spread out! We're talking opposite sides of Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Mexico, and both sides of the US as well!! Oh! And Indonesia too! Yes....talk about difficult getting our family together! But many came and it was a joy to catch up and fellowship with one another! And then there were friends as well! I personally, have an AWESOME friend group who took their vacation time during my stay in Canada so we could get together! So 14 of us friends from Bible school were able to get together and catch up! I felt VERY special in that they got together when I was able to attend, very cool!

Our time in Canada was also good in the way we were able to share in 5 different churches, 7 different services. It is always special to be able to share the passion God has placed in our hearts for the Mexican people, and for this Bible school that God has placed in our charge at this point in time. We count is a privilege to be a part of HIS work here at CEC and LOVE sharing with others so they too can be a part of the work here.

Now, for the most recent part of the story, the 5 day seminar that we just finished! WOW! As I mentioned previously, we had just begun planning two days before we left Mexico....YIKES! So of course when we got back there was much to do! The day after we arrived my Dad and I went out visiting pastors again to remind them and ask if they knew numbers as to who would be coming from their congregations. In Mexico though you never really know how many people you're going to have until they show or don't show. Monday morning arrived and we had 8 people. To say the least, we were all a little disappointed. We knew it was kind of last minute, but at the same time we were expecting more people. But as everything, it isn't OURS, it is GOD'S plan and HIS work, so we reminded ourselves of that I realized that HE was going to bring who HE wanted, and if it was only a small group, well that's the way it was supposed to be! But low and behold the Lord did have others in mind to come and Tuesday we had about 20 people in attendance. Wednesday it went up to about 25! Number aren't everything, but it was so awesome to see who God brought to the seminar and to see people truly impacted and changed through the subjects God laid on our hearts to be taught which were: Spiritual Warfare, Leadership in the Church, and Marriage Workshop. God orchestrated the teachers He wanted, and the subjects all went together so well and everything was just really well done. We were so excited to hear how impacted the “students” were, and how excited they were to keep on going in their ministries! We are VERY encouraged and see the need there is for more of these seminars! Everyone was like a sponge, soaking up all the information and wanting more! Many of those that came had never been to anything like this before, had no classes of any sort. God is using CEC for His glory, and for the furthering of HIS kingdom and in training His laborers.....very exciting! For those of you who have prayed with us for this seminar, THANK YOU!!! And keep praying not only for us, but for those who have come through our doors, that they would continue to allow God to teach and change them from the inside out to be more like HIM. I think that's something we can all pray for in our lives! Thank you so much for being a part of the work here in Mexico, and we look forward to sharing more the next time! Our next seminar will be in November and we're already excited about it and thinking on how we can do things better for the glory of God! Keep us in your prayers.....until next time!

-Katie

for Howard and Susan too!

PS. We're resting up a bit.....taking a few big breaths.